'Thunder Soul' review: Appealing doc could have been funkier

'Thunder Soul'

"That's me in the tie."

"That's me in the tie."

By Matt PaisRedEye movie critic

**1/2 (out of four)

In the early 1970s the Kashmere Stage Band of Houston, Texas was a rarity: An all-black high school band led by a black band director that funkdafied its jazz to earn national recognition and tour Europe and Japan. More than 30 years later the students reunite to perform for their 92-year-old teacher Conrad O. Johnson. “Thunder Soul” radiates warmth and energy from fun, kind people sharing love for each other and playing music together. If only the doc had more information. There’s a lot of chatter but not enough storytelling, not to mention not nearly enough complete performances. How can we make it funky with mostly snippets of vamps underneath the talking heads?

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